Changes in the Leaf Polypeptide Patterns of Barley Plants Exposed to Soil Flooding

Exposure of barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) to soil flooding for 72 – 120 h led to decrease in the content of the both subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. The effect was more pronounced on the small subunit. Further, the changes in protein pattern were observed, mainly proteins with molecular masses 30 – 85 kD were down-regulated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of Qualitative Contribution of Assimilatory and Non-Assimilatory De-Excitation Processes to Adaptation of Photosynthetic Apparatus of Barley Plants to High Irradiance

The adaptation of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Akcent) plants to low (LI, 50 µmol m^–2 s^–1) and high (HI, 1000 µmol m^–2 s^–1) growth irradiances was studied using the simultaneous measurements of the photosynthetic oxygen evolution and chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence at room temperature. If measured under ambient CO₂ concentration, neither increase of the oxygen evolution rate (P) nor enhancement of non-radiative dissipation of the absorbed excitation energy within photosystem 2 (PS2) (determined as non-photochemical quenching of Chl a fluorescence, NPQ) were observed for HI plants compared with LI plants. Nevertheless, the HI plants exhibited a significantly higher proportion of Q_A in oxidised state (estimated from photochemical quenching of Chl a fluorescence, q_P), by 49–102 % at irradiances above 200 µmol m^–2 s^–1 and an about 1.5 fold increase of irradiance-saturated PS2 electron transport rate (ETR) as compared to LI plants. At high CO₂ concentration the degree of P stimulation was approximately three times higher for HI than for LI plants, and the irradiance-saturated P values at irradiances of 2 440 and 2 900 µmol m^–2 s^–1 were by 130 and 150 % higher for HI plants than for LI plants. We suggest that non-assimilatory electron transport dominates in the adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus of barley grown at high irradiances under ambient CO₂ rather than an increased NPQ or an enhancement of irradiance-saturated photosynthesis.     

Response of Barley Lines with Structural Rearrangements in Chromosomes 5, 6 and 7 to Limited Nitrogen Nutrition

The responses of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) lines with rebuilt chromosomes 5, 6 and 7 to reduced nitrogen nutrition were evaluated in juvenile growth stages. The material included two series of duplications (D) produced in the short arm of chromosome 6 and of chromosome 7, and in the long arm of chromosome 5 and of chromosome 6; their parental translocation lines (T) - from which analyzed duplications were derived and a standard karyotype cv. Bonus as a control. The translocation lines have break points located in 6_S and 7_S, or 5_L and 6_L. Only the lines with duplicated segments of the short arms of satellited (6 and 7) chromosomes exhibited an improved tolerance to reduced nitrogen supply. No changes relative to cv. Bonus were observed in the T-lines. More tolerant D-lines showed lower stimulation of the root development. Obtained results suggests that the adaptability factors for the low N tolerance at the vegetative growth stage of barley are located in the short arms of 6 and 7 chromosomes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of short-term soil flooding on stomata behaviour and leaf gas exchange in barley plants

Exposure of barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) to soil flooding for 2 to 24 h reduced the net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate. Stomatal conductance also decreased in flooded plants. Stomatal closure started within 2 – 6 h and stomata remained closed up to 24 h of treatment.     

Effects of Paclobutrazol on Response of Two Barley Cultivars to Salt Stress

The seeds of two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars (a drought resistant cv. Tokak-137/57 and a drought sensitive cv. Erginel-90) were imbibed either in distilled water (control) or in a solution containing 40 mg dm⁻³ paclobutrazol (PBZ) and air dried. Seeds were germinated and grown in a glasshouse for 21 d and seedlings were subjected to salt stress by treating them with 100 and 200 mM NaCl for 12 d. The height of shoots was significantly decreased and root length was increased in PBZ-treated plants prior and after NaCl stress for 12 d leading to an increase in root to shoot ratio. Leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in PBZ treated plants were increased in controls and especially in plants subjected to salt stress. PBZ induced increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities was higher in cv. Tokak-157/37, than in cv. Erginel-90. However, an increase in SOD activity was not accompanied by an increase in peroxidase activity. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of Some Barley Chlorophyll Mutants and Their Response to Temperature Stress

Six barley chlorophyll (Chl) mutants, viridis, flavoviridis, chlorina, xanhta, lutea, and albina, differed in the contents of Chl (a+b) and carotenoids (Cars). In accordance with their Chl-deficient phenotype, the Chl a and b and Car contents of mutants decreased from viridis to albina, only xantha had the same or even higher concentration of Cars as the wild type plant. The albina mutant completely lacked and xantha had a significantly reduced photosynthetic activity. We found quantitative differences in protein contents between wild type and mutant plants, with the lowest concentration per fresh mass in the albina mutant. Chl fluorescence analysis revealed that heat-treated barley leaves of both the wild type and Chl mutants had a lower photosystem 2 efficiency than the untreated ones. With ³⁵S-methionine labelling and SDS-PAGE we found that six to nine de novo synthetized proteins appeared after heat shock (2 h, 42 °C) in the wild type and Chl mutants. In albina the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) was reduced to 50 % of that in the wild type. Hence mainly albina mutants, with a completely destroyed proteosynthetic apparatus of the chloroplasts, are able to synthesize a small set of HSPs. The albina mutant is a very useful tool for the study of different gene expression of chloroplast and nuclear DNA.     

Comparison of Barley Response to Short-Term Cold or Dehydration

Abscisic acid (ABA) content and relative water content (RWC) in second fully expanded leaves of cold hardened plants and in dehydrated leaves of freezing tolerant barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Lunet) were compared. ABA content and RWC in leaves did not change during the first day of cold hardening. On the contrary, dehydration of leaves led to a decrease of RWC and to an increase of ABA content.     

A Long-Term Response of Chlorophyll Fluorescence Induction to One-Shot Application of Cyanazine on Barley Plants and Its Relation to Crop Yield

Field-grown plants of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Akcent) in the growth phase 30 DC (beginning of stem extension) were exposed to a one-shot application of a commercial product containing cyanazine (Bladex 50 SC) in two doses, C₃₀ and C₆₀ (30 and 60 mg m⁻²). The reaction of the plant photosynthetic system was followed non-destructively using chlorophyll fluorescence induction (the O-J-I-P transient) within three weeks after the application in the fifth developed leaf and three further gradually appearing leaves. An immediate response of plants to the application of cyanazine and a regeneration of plants from cyanazine action were detected. The biological (plant dry mass) and crop yield production (the number and mass of grains in a spike) were analyzed in time of full ripeness. The crop yield was lowered by the herbicide effect to the same level for the two doses used. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Two-Dimensional Electrophoretic Analysis of Salicylic Acid-Induced Changes in Polypeptide Pattern of Barley Leaves

The salicylic acid-induced changes in the polypeptide patterns of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaves have been analysed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. An optimized 2-D PAGE protocol was used and gave reproducible 2-D gels from leaf crude protein extracts with a high number of detected polypeptides. When applied for 24 h SA affected the expression of a number of soluble proteins. Most of them appeared to be down-regulated. Although no abundant expression of specific proteins was observed, we detected three polypeptides that were present only in SA-treated leaves.     

Response of Barley Seedlings to UV-B Radiation as Affected by Proline and NaCl

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Alfa) seedlings were treated for 4 d before UV-B irradiation with 0.05 mM proline or 150 mM NaCl. UV-B exposure induced synthesis of yellow coloured compounds with maximum absorbance at 438 nm. The content of these compounds was increased in proline-treated and decreased in NaCl-treated plants. UV-B radiation reduced chlorophyll/carotenoids ratio, oxygen evolution rate and photochemical efficiency of PS 2 as estimated by chlorophyll fluorescence and increased proline accumulation, H₂O₂ generation and lipid peroxidation. Exogenous proline had no effect on the parameters studied and did not change the response of plants to UV-B radiation. NaCl inhibited photochemical efficiency of PS 2, reduced oxygen evolution and increased H₂O₂ concentration and lipid peroxidation. The combination of NaCl and proline treatment led to lowering the inhibitory effect of NaCl in non UV-B irradiated seedlings. There was not relationship between the level of UV-B-induced compounds and UV-B tolerance of barley seedlings.     

Accumulation of Microsomal Polypeptides in Barley Roots during Aluminium Stress

Accumulation of two peripheral membrane polypeptides (20 and 28 kDa) in roots of Al-sensitive (cv. Alfor) and Al-resistant (cv. Bavaria) barley cultivars were analysed during Al stress. Both cultivars were subjected to Al concentration ranging from 0 to 150 µM for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Accumulation of both polypeptides was determined 24 h after exposure of plants to Al and content of both polypeptides showed only small depedence upon Al concentration and duration of Al treatment. Although, based on root growth test, Bavaria showed significantly greater resistance to Al than Alfor, analysis of 20 and 28 kDa polypeptide pattern has not revealed significant difference between the two cultivars. However, accumulation of 20 and 28 kDa polypeptides in Alfor was selectively induced by Al treatment because different pH of the root media (pH 3.5 to 6.5) or application of other metals (Cu, Co, or Cd) failed to induce these two bands. On the other hand, accumulation of these polypeptides in Bavaria was induced not only by Al, but also by Cd and in a lesser extent by Co treatment.     

Cadmium-Induced Changes in Chloroplast Lipids and Photosystem Activities in Barley Plants

Fatty acid content and composition of chloroplast membranes, ethylene production associated with thylakoid lipids degradation as well as photosynthetic electron transport involving photosystems 1 and 2 were used to determine the effects of increasing Cd concentrations in the growth medium [0, 14, 28, and 42 mg (Cd) kg^–1(sand)] on the photosynthetic performance of barley plants (H. vulgare L., cv. CE9704). High concentrations of Cd triggered serious disturbances of the chloroplast membranes. Ethylene production increased whereas a drop of 18:3 fatty acid content occurred, indicating that Cd mediates lipid peroxidation in the thylakoids. The enhanced ethylene production could be used as an early indicator of Cd-induced membrane degradation, yet at very high concentration (42 mg kg^–1) Cd decreased ethylene production.     

Photosynthetic Response of Carrots to Varying Irradiances

Response to irradiance of leaf net photosynthetic rates (P _N) of four carrot cultivars: Cascade, Caro Choice (CC), Oranza, and Red Core Chantenay (RCC) were examined in a controlled environment. Gas exchange measurements were conducted at photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) from 100 to 1 000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ at 20 °C and 350 μmol (CO₂) mol⁻¹(air). The values of P _N were fitted to a rectangular hyperbolic nonlinear regression model. P _N for all cultivars increased similarly with increasing PAR but Cascade and Oranza generally had higher P _N than CC. None of the cultivars reached saturation at 1 000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. The predicted P _N at saturation (P _Nmax) for Cascade, CC, Oranza, and RCC were 19.78, 16.40, 19.79, and 18.11 μmol (CO₂) m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively. The compensation irradiance (I _c) occurred at 54 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for Cascade, 36 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for CC, 45 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for Oranza, and 25 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for RCC. The quantum yield among the cultivars ranged between 0.057–0.033 mol(CO₂) mol⁻¹(PAR) and did not differ. Dark respiration varied from 2.66 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for Cascade to 0.85 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for RCC. As P _N increased with PAR, intercellular CO₂ decreased in a non-linear manner. Increasing PAR increased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate to a peak between 600 and 800 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ followed by a steep decline resulting in sharp increases in water use efficiency. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Regeneration of Immature Inflorescences of Barley In Vitro

Two spring barley cultivars, Golden Promise and Galan, were screened for callus induction and shoot regeneration from cultured immature inflorescences. Genotype Galan have better regeneration capacity in in vitro conditions than Golden Promise.     

Determination of Frost Tolerance in Winter Wheat and Barley at the Seedling Stage

Detailed studies were made on changes in the quantity of 1.4 MDa rRNA precursor in barley and wheat cultivars with different degrees of frost tolerance. When analysing genotypes with different LT₅₀ values a close negative correlation was found between the quantity of 1.4 MDa molecular mass rRNA precursor and the forst tolerance of the given barley or wheat cultivar. The results suggest that a technique based on low temperature phosphorus incubation at the seedling stage could be suitable for the selection of genotypes on the basis of this character in applied research.     

Barley anther culture using membrane rafts

When compared to agarose solidified media in small petri dishes, membrane rafts used in conjunction with liquid induction media significantly improved anther culture response in the Australian, malting-quality, spring barley cultivar Clipper. In contrast, the German cultivar Gimpel did not show an increased response on rafts.Abbreviations BA 6-benzylaminopurine - IAA indoleacetic acid - DH doubled haploid     

Isolation and Partial Characterization of Aluminium-Induced Cytoplasmic Polypeptides from Barley Root

Using preparative isoelectric focusing, fast performance liquid chromatography, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis accumulation of several Al-induced cytoplasmic proteins was described in barley roots. Two of them, 27 and 28 kDa polypeptides were isolated by continuous-elution electrophoresis system in sufficient quantities for their further characterisation.     

Effects of Soil Drought and Atmospheric Humidity on Yield,Gas Exchange,and Stable Carbon Isotope Composition of Barley

The combined effects of water status, vapour pressure deficit (VPD), and elevated temperature from heading to maturity were studied in barley. Plants growing at high VPD, either under well-watered or water deficit conditions, had higher grain yield and grain filling rate than plants growing at low VPD. By contrast, water stress decreased grain yield and individual grain dry matter at any VPD. Water regime and to a lesser extent VPD affected ¹³C of plant parts sampled at mid-grain filling and maturity. The differences between treatments were maximal in mature grains, where high VPD increased ¹³C for both water regimes. However, the total amount of water used by the plant during grain filling did not change as response to a higher VPD whereas transpiration efficiency (TE) decreased. The net photosynthetic rate (P _N) of the flag leaves decreased significantly under water stress at both VPD regimes. However, P _N of the ears was higher at high VPD than at low VPD, and did not decrease as response to water stress. The higher correlation of grain yield with P _N of the ear compared with that of the flag leaf support the role of ear as the main photosynthetic organ during grain filling under water deficit and high VPD. The deleterious effects of combined moderately high temperature and drought on yield were attenuated at high VPD.     

Improved Regeneration Efficiency from Mature Embryos of Barley Cultivars

A reliable protocol for plant regeneration from mature embryo derived calli of nine barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivars has been developed. The auxins 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, picloram and dicamba proved effective in inducing callus from mature embryos of most of the barley cultivars. The induced primary callus was loose, friable and translucent. It ultimately yielded creamy white and compact callus after 2 - 3 transfers on fresh medium of the same composition. Callus induction and regeneration capacity were highly cultivar dependent. Addition of a high concentration of picloram (4 mg dm^-3) promoted regeneration in 3 cultivars (Tallon, Grimmett and Sloop). In cv. Arapiles, abscisic acid and betaine were crucial in generating morphogenic callus from the mature embryos. Plants regenerated from these calli were hardy and developed roots readily when transferred to hormone free medium. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Light-Dark Changes in Proline Content of Barley Leaves under Salt Stress

Proline accumulation in leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Alfa) seedlings treated with 150 mM NaCl was promoted in the light and suppressed in the dark. The light/dark changes of proline content was enhanced with each 12 h light/12 h dark cycle and the proline content increased steadily. Root and shoot concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl^– in salt treated plants increased about 10 to 25 times as compared to the control. The content of these ions and the content of malondialdehyde were higher in the shoot of seedlings exposed to salt stress for 4 d in the light in comparison with the seedlings exposed to NaCl for 4 d in darkness. Light stimulated both ions and proline accumulation in the leaves and has no effect in the roots. Oxygen uptake was higher in the seedlings kept 4 d in the light which have higher endogenous free proline content. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed that the photochemical activity of PS 2 slightly decreased as a result of salt stress and was not influenced by light regimes during plant growth.